Flexible ladder



W. F. EARLY.

FLEXIBLE LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 5. I919- Y Y Patented Jan. 13,1920.

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I N VENTOR.

1 Wax/7x30 WITNESS:

BY 7 fl" z E ATTORNEY,

WILLIAM F. IElAIRIfllI, OF MARION, NORTH CAROLINA.

I FLEXIBLE LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed April 5, 1919. Serial No. 287,751.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that l, WILLIAM F. EARLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of McDowell and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Ladders, of which the'following is a specification.

The invention relates to ladders which may be folded into compact form so as to occupy a minimum amount of space and admit of the ladder being conveniently handled.

The invention provides a ladder adapted more particularly for use in connection with dwellings and like structures to provide an escape therefrom during a fire or other emergency temporarily shutting off the ordinary avenues of escape.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of theinvention as claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a front view of a section of flexible ladder embodying the invention, showing the same extended and supported from a window.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the parts on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing more clearly the manner of connecting the treads and braces to the suspending ropes.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description andindicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The ladder is connected at one end to .a bar 1 or like member which forms suspending means therefor, said bar being of a length to span an opening, such as a window and engage with the jambs or sides thereof. A cord or rope 2 is connected with the bar 1 and passes through or engages a guide 3 disposed some distance above the lower portion of the opening or the sill 4: of the window. The rope or cord 2 may extend to the ground or other convenient place so as to be drawn upon for proper manipulation of the ladder either in elevating or lowering the same. The bar 1. is usually of Wood although it is "obvious that it may be of any material and have any desired form.

The ladder comprises suspending ropes or cords 5 which are engaged with the bar or member 1. As indicated openings 6 are formed in opposite. end portions of the bar 1 and each rope or cord after being passed around the bar, as indicated'at 7 has its free portions passed through an opening 6, thereby securely connecting each of the ropes or cords to the bar. The free portions of the ropes then are'brought together and are formed at regular intervals with knots 8 which engage and support treads 9. It will thus be'seen that the knots 8 form the double office of connecting the free portions of the ropes and also provide stops for supporting the treads 9.

'The treads 9' may be of "any material and are provided at their ends with braces 10 which are adapted to engage the front of the building or structure'and hold the ladder properly spaced therefrom. The braces 10 consist of short bars which are applied to end portions of the treads, said braces having their lower sides cut away at their outer ends to receive the treads, the shoulders formed at the inner ends of the cut away portions engaging the near edges of the treads and forming stops. Registering openings 11 are formed in the outer ends of thebraces 10 and treads 9 and receive the suspending ropes 5 whichpass therethrough.

Displacement of the braces 10 and treads 9 on the suspending ropes is prevented by other ropes or cords 12 which are intertwined with the suspending ropes or cords 5 and engaged about the treads and braces, as indicated in the drawing. The rope or cord 12 is wrapped around the suspending rope or cord between each two treads, as indicated at 13 and is passed through a transverse opening 14 in the upper end of the brace and engaged about said brace, as indicated at 15, the portions of the rope being intertwisted, as at 16 and passed around the suspending rope at 17. The portion of the rope or cord between the intertwisted portions 16 and the suspending rope encompassing portion 17 is passed about the tread engaging portion 18 as indicated t 19. This results in the formation of a secure connection whereby the treads and braces are retained in proper position.

The ladder is of such structure that it may be rolled or folded into a compact bundle to be conveniently stored or handled. The ladder may be manipulated by means of the rope 2 and after a person has made an escape from a building the rope 2 may be drawn upon, thereby lifting the end of the bar 1 attached thereto and withdrawing the opposite end of the bar from engagement with the window frame or other like sustaining part. By pulling upon the ladder the end of the bar 1 so released will be swung outward and clear the structure, thereby ad mitting of lowering the ladder by means of the rope 2. Obviously the loose end of the rope or cord may be thrown to a person occupying a room and the person receiving the rope may pass the same through the guide 3 and lower the same to admit a ladder being attached thereto which may be elevated so as to be reached and placed in position by the person desiring to make an escape. The bar 1 spanning the window frame provides convenient and safe means for securing the ladder and also admits of the ladder being saved through the instrumentality of the rope 2 in the manner herein stated.

The foregoingdescription and the drawing have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, ma-

terials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of 'the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.- In a flexible ladder, a suspending member, treads mounted upon the suspending member and a cord or rope intertwined about the suspending member between the treads and engaging the treads in the rear and having portions immediately above the treads looped about the suspending member and the parts of the rope engaging the treads.

2. A flexible ladder, comprising a suspending member, treads mounted upon the suspending member, braces cooperating with the treads and receiving the suspending member and a rope or cord intertwined about the suspending member between the treads and having portions engaging the braces and treads and intertwisted adjacent the braces and looped about the suspending member and the tread engaging portions adj acent the braces.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. EARLY. l/Vitnesses J. W. HENSLEY, M. G. POTEOT. 

